We use ours quite frequently. We take advantage of sales on meat/poultry and break large packages down to meal-sized portions to freeze. DH fishes and shellfishes. When we process our seafood (stuffed clams, chowder, clam sauce, fishcakes, smoked bluefish and fresh filets of striped bass) we vacuum seal them to freeze and enjoy all winter. We also vacuum seal extra portions of things like lasagna, meatloaf, turkey, pulled pork etc. We have a chest freezer in the basement. Vacuum sealed foods survive quite well and we wouldn't want to be without one.

We have one but I find it cumbersome to use...maybe if I had some devoted counter space. I use Ziplock freezer bags. Not as good but they work well enough with little fuss.

I've had at least one for many years, believe I'm on my third. And right now I have two. A friend bought the expensive heavy duty 'game saver' model and had used it only once. He gave it to me. I tell him it's his but lives here, available to anyone with a kitchen project needing it.

I've loaned the game saver but use it only occasionally myself. We don't raise or buy beef, pork to have the big quantities all at once the last several years. But it certainly came in handy the times DH would order sausages made, or we'd have a few fish to process...the counter style kitchen models can balk if asked to seal and vacuum many consecutive packages and seem to need a rest - that can slow things down.

I have a counter top style that can easily (not heavy) slide onto a cabinet shelf behind doors, prefer to keep my counters somewhat clear. I use it for chicken thighs, chops, cheese, more. Limes and lemons for later juicing. Blanched vegetables - have a supply of the steam in microwave sealable bags I use for vegetables from the freezer onto table in less than 5 minutes. Love it for peas. I keep the precut bags, rolls of bagging material in two widths on hand.

I need to add, newly married, a butcher taught me to freezer wrap meats in butchers freezer paper. I'm good at it ;0) Freezer space can be dear here, my upright in the mudroom is severely full. Ground meats, boneless steaks - I've begun to paper wrap again. They take up a little less freezer space done that way, and are not slippery - no opening the door to something falling on my feet, but that has more to do with me not using things in a timely manner than cons of the vacuum sealing bags.

I wouldn't be without one either. Like seagrass I buy large 5 lb. packages of shrimp on sale and package it up into 10-12 shrimp per pack. Salmon and Ahi tuna is already vacuum sealed when I buy it frozen. I don't currently use it on other meats because we have our beef and pork processed at an Amish butcher that vacuum seals it for us. We are taking a couple steer in tomorrow...Yay steak! Been out of steaks for awhile and I refuse to pay current prices for sub-par meat. Whole and cut up chickens are bought from the Mennonites in sealed bags too.

I guess so far I am describing mostly things I don't use it for. I do use it for freezing corn, asparagus, broccoli, green beans, carrots, peppers, and cauliflower from the garden.

A few times a year I will make big batches of twice baked potatoes and then flash freeze and vacuum seal them in meal sized portions. I need to do that soon with some of the potatoes my brother just gave me from his garden.

If I remember to take it took the lake when a fishing trip is planned I will use it to vacuum seal our catch. I also use it to seal beef jerky in small 1/2 lb. portions when I make some.

I have two identical ones, one for each house, and they have hose attachments so that I can vacuum seal jars, which I do frequently.

I also use butcher paper when freezing meat. I wrap the meat in butcher paper and then put it in a Foodsaver bag before freezing it.

I freeze limes, usually three to five to a bag, when I have excess fruit on my lime tree. I do the same with Meyer lemons, as they have a limited season. I freeze citrus fruits whole and then defrost in the microwave at 10 second intervals. If I want zest, I zest the fruit before defrosting it.

Love the little handheld model with the accompanying ziploc bags. The new handheld is small enough that it fits in my hand, no wasted counter space. It also has the ability to connect to special bottle corks.

I have had a vacuum sealer for years and yes I use it frequently. I vac seal fruits and veggie overabundance to freeze. When all the boys were home I used it to portion out value packs of meat. I moved it to a cabinet, got tired of it on counter, it is in an easy to retrieve cabinet now.

When I vacuum seal meats like chicken parts, pork chops, hamburger patties, etc., I put individual portions in plastic sandwich bags, then seal them in the Foodsaver bags. That way I can take out whatever I need at the time. That worked really well when some of the kids were still at home, and I didn't always know how many would be here for a meal. And it works just as well now that I live alone. using this method, the meat itself never touches the FS bag, so I am perfectly comfortable washing reusing the bags.

I order my FS suppplies directly from FS, and I got carried away a few years ago, stocking up on all the various types and sizes that I use most, when FS would have their BOGO offers plus free shipping, so I have what is more than likely a lifetime supply.

I don't use it as much now as I did when I had family at home, but I still wouldn't want to be without it. I'm pretty sure I would replace it if it were to break down.

Rusty

I don’t use it too much, but enough to where I’d replace it if it broke. Mainly for sous vide once or twice a month, and randomnthings like making custom ice packs.

Raye Smith - I need your help please. Had a handheld vacuum sealer several years back but could not find a replacement after the sealer broke and for the bags around here anymore. Any recommendations about getting both? They are just what I need, 1 person, very small kitchen space. Thanks.

I have a old Foodsaver with the hose attachment and the plastic jars, which I don't think they make any more (the jars). I keep berries in the jars and use the Foodsaver daily to suck the air out of the jars.

We have one but it's not used much since we moved to town. We simply don't store much food any more.

I have had one for years, and use it frequently. I don't know if I'd use it as frequently if I was in a larger household, but with just me at home, it's perfect for storing single servings of cooked or raw food.

anneliese32 - I haven't had any need for the counter model, the handheld does everything I need. It's easier to store food in the smaller bags than try to fit larger ones in the freezer.

I bought this one - Foodsaver Model 31161370, another plus is it's much quieter than a prior handheld version a friend had. Hope that helps you :)

I am actually giving mine to good will. Used two times with lots of bags. Do not like it.

Thanks Raye Smith, that's just what I was looking for and why I liked my old one years ago.

I love mine. I use it quite often. I buy larger portion packages of meat at Costco then vaccum seal smaller portions. I wouldn't be without one.

I use mine all the time too. We buy on sale and portion out into meal sizes before freezing. Vacuum sealing keeps things really fresh for a long time.

Ditto what Sephia said. Love mine, use it mostly to freeze smaller portions of meat.

thank you for the feedback. Co-worker was asking if I use a vacuum seal system of any type but I dont. I've thought about it though because I like to buy the meat at Costco and would like to package in smaller portions when needed. The FoodSaver is in their upcoming coupon book for $99. Co-worker is trying a different brand, that had good reviews and was much cheaper. I'll see what she thinks once she tries it out.

Co-workers said she bought a Geryon, no more than $50. She said loves it. No trial and error when she first used it. Very user friendly. Not sure which exact model she bought, but she picked this brand based on the good reviews.

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=geryon&i=garden&crid=1C8GONEKE64DJ&sprefix=geryon%2Cgarden%2C125&ref=nb_sb_noss_1